Salute to the softball players of the week: CCHS grad Amanda Hess and Palmerton's Reese Dugan

If there’s anybody in local softball who knows pitching talent, it’s Lehigh-Carbon Community College coach Jenn Shellhammer. She carved out a Hall of Fame career at first Central Catholic and later at Radford University and the University of Maryland by being a dominant force in the circle.

Shellhammer likes what she sees in Cougars freshman Amanda Hess, another CCHS graduate.

“I got to know her over the summer because she played on the Patriettes 23U team and I watched her before she even came to LCCC and got excited because she throws hard and has real good movement,” Shellhammer said. “She has been averaging somewhere between nine and 11 strikeouts a game. Unfortunately, we don’t always back her up offensively or defensively.”

Yet, even though things have gone awry and they have often for LCCC in what was a 5-17 season entering Thursday, Hess has kept her poise.

“She doesn’t let anything bother her,” Shellhammer said. “She presents very well on the mound and keeps the mental part of her game together really well.”

In a doubleheader sweep of Luzerne Community College this week, Hess allowed just two runs and struck out 10 in the first game and went 3-for-4 at the plate in the nightcap.

“We’re hoping Amanda is back with us next year, but if she wants to move on to a four-year school I will help her in anyway I can,” Shellhammer said. “She’s also a very good student and we’re just lucky to have her because she has been carrying us.”

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

REESE DUGAN, PALMERTON

The Palmerton softball team got off to a slow start this spring. One of the reasons was that sophomore Reese Dugan wasn’t healthy.

But both Dugan and the Blue Bombers are feeling a lot better these days.

Earlier this week, Palmerton totaled 36 runs in back-to-back wins over East Stroudsburg North and Palisades and Dugan was in the middle of the Bombers’ explosion by going 6-for-7 with two home runs, two doubles and seven RBIs.

“Reese is working hard at everything,” first-year Palmerton coach Bob Hock said. “She was a role player until recently, but got a chance to play more due to some injuries and pitching issues we’ve had. She has been hitting the ball all over the place.”

Dugan has settled in as the team’s full-time designated player and cleanup hitter. Defensively, she’s capable of pitching or playing at second or third when needed.

“She missed a lot of time early in the season because she wasn’t healthy,” Hock said. “She was content with a second-string role, but I saw that she had ability. I asked her to push herself a little harder. Once she did, good things started to happen. She has definitely stepped it up a notch and made us a better team.”